
Kaleidoscope
Dance Space

Instructors at Kaleidoscope
One of the things that makes Kaleidoscope different from other studios is that all of our instructors are independent.

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Darin Henry
T'ai Chi Yang Form, T'ai chi Swords, Push Hands
602-381-8040
Beginning his T'ai Chi practice in 1985 as a student of Debby Gordon, he has received thousands of hours of instruction from her, Kim Kanzelberger, and their teacher, Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo (senior student of Cheng Man-ch'ing). Teaching T'ai Chi since 1993,
Dr. Henry uses his background in physiology to safely emphasize correct posture to maximize the many great benefits of T'ai Chi practice.
Israeli Folk Dance
Deborah fell in love with Israeli dancing in 1971 in Los Angeles. In high school there was an International dancing event which included some Israeli dancing; thus the adventure began. She was a passionate regular at Café Danssa for a total of 13 years.
In 1973 she volunteered on a kibbutz (communal farm) in northern Israel but had to return to the USA abruptly due to the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War. In 1979 Deborah was part of a Semester Abroad program in Jerusalem which joyfully included the responsibility of teaching Israeli dancing
Over the years she has acquired a large repertoire of Israeli circle and couple dances, and also International folk dances.
Deborah especially enjoys the pioneer / nostalgic / beginner dances. It is her desire to help dancers raise their level of skill, and interest, from beginner to the more complex dances…… with an emphasis on having fun.
Jennifer Sherman
Kids Math
602-345-0496
Jennifer has a MS Ed and a MA Ed. She taught for many years and also was a principle. Now she has her own business tutoring and teaching classes.
Jennifer Sherman
Preschool Music & Movement
480-980-8739
Jennifer has over 15 years of professional experience in education as an elementary teacher and school principal. She has a bachelor’s degree and two masters degrees with a focus on early education and educational leadership.
Jennifer Sherman
Sound Meditation
480-980-8739
Jennifer has been practicing sound meditation for ten years and qigong for five years. Her goal is to share the benefits of sound, meditation, and movement with others.
Kevin & Trudy Sherman
Science and Technology
602-345-0496
Kevin is a systems engineer at General Dynamics.
Kevin Sherman
Tech Workshops for Teens
602-345-0496
Kevin is a lead Systems Engineer at General Dynamics. His degree is in electrical engineering. Kevin has been mentoring young people in the fields of engineering and technology for over 30 years. He was the first coach to have an all girl team win the Phoenix Future Cities competition.
Laina Ferris
Country, West Coast Swing
480-707-2004
Offers Private Lessons
Laina has a real passion for dancing and music and loves sharing the joy of dancing with her students. She has been a competitive dancer and has been dancing 28 year, teaching for the past 10 years.
Laina is an originator and Co-Host for the bi-monthly Country Rain and Dance Sensation at NRG Ballroom for the past 7 years.
Laina Lee of Dance Lane and East Valley Kickers Meet Up (with over 4,400 members.) She is a member of UCWCD. And teaches Country 2 Step, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Country Waltz and Cha Cha, as well as Night Club 2 Step and N.Y. Hustle.
Laina Ferris
Country Line Dance
480-707-2004
Laina has a real passion for dancing and music and loves sharing the joy of dancing with her students. She has been a competitive dancer and has been dancing 28 year, teaching for the past 10 years.
She teaches partner and line dancing at different clubs and corporate events around the Valley. She also teaches Line Dance/Exercise classes at Optum Healthcare (part of United Healthcare.) She formed the Renegade Ropers Line Dance Team, a competition and performance team 5 years ago.
Luisa Alvarez
Ballroom, Latin, West Coast Swing
Offers Private Lessons
Mona Brandt
Ballroom
281-830-9929
Offers Private Lessons
Mona has been dancing for most of her life, beginning with Ballet, Tap and Jazz as a child. While she was in college she taught Ballet, Tap and Jazz to children and adults.
After graduating college, Mona worked as an Engineer for the US Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC. It was there that she learned Country Dancing, and began teaching and competing as well. Later, in Houston, Mona continued her dance training in Country, Ballroom and Swing.
Mona now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she teaches dance full-time, coaches competitive dancers, competes with her students in pro-am, and travels around the world, teaching, judging competitions and coaching.
Mona Brandt
Country, West Coast Swing
281-830-9929
Offers Private Lessons
Mona has been dancing for most of her life, beginning with Ballet, Tap and Jazz as a child. While she was in college she taught Ballet, Tap and Jazz to children and adults.
After graduating college, Mona worked as an Engineer for the US Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC. It was there that she learned Country Dancing, and began teaching and competing as well. Later, in Houston, Mona continued her dance training in Country, Ballroom and Swing. Mona won 2 Country Dance World Championships with her partner Chad Guidry, and 1 with her partner Sam Arvidson.
Mona most recently competed in the UCWDC Masters Division (the highest level of Country Dance competition) with Tim Perez, who was also a co-director of the Arizona Dance Classic,
Mona now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she teaches dance full-time, coaches competitive dancers, competes with her students in pro-am, and travels around the world, teaching, judging competitions and coaching.
Awards and Titles
**2011 UCWDC World Showcase Couples Grand Champion
**2006 UCWDC World Showcase Line Grand Champion
**2005 UCWDC World Line Grand Champion
**2003 UCWDC World Showcase Couples Grand Champion
**2001 UCWDC World Couples Showcase Division II Champion
**2000 UCWDC World Couples Showcase Division III Champion
Mona Brandt
Performance Team, Fitness
281-830-9929
Offers Private Lessons
Mona has been dancing for most of her life, beginning with Ballet, Tap and Jazz as a child. While she was in college she taught Ballet, Tap and Jazz to children and adults.
After graduating college, Mona worked as an Electrical Engineer first at the US Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC and later in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. It was there that she began competing in Line Dance and won 2 World Championships in Line Dance.
Mona now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she teaches dance full-time, coaches competitive dancers, competes with her students in pro-am, and travels around the world, teaching, judging competitions and coaching.
Ryan Yoder
Ballroom, Country
602-345-0496
Offers Private Lessons
Trudy & Kevin Sherman
Ballroom
602-345-0496
Offers Private Lessons
Trudy started dancing when she was 6 and continued to dance all the way through college. She enjoyed all kinds of dance. Her mother and both aunts were professional dancers as young women. Her mother was also a professional square dance caller in college. As they say "Dancing is in Trudy's blood."
Kevin and Trudy started ballroom dance in 2013. They have fun dancing together and love to make dancing a fun activity for others as well. Their classes focus on the beginner dancer and those who like to dance socially.
Coming from an engineering background, they enjoy the challenge of making sure their classes are well planned out and structured to make learning as easy, enjoyable, and memorable as possible.
Trudy Sherman
Line Dance
602-345-0496
Trudy started dancing when she was 6 and continued to dance all the way through college. In her adult years she attended many years of Folk dance, Jazzercise, clogging, and Zumba classes. This is the foundation for her enjoyment of line dances.
Another passion Trudy had from an early age was music. She played flute and dabbled in piano and guitar. Marching band was such a favorite that she performed and competed in marching bands for over 8 years, including college.
She now teaches Line Dance classes that she created specifically for those with balance issues or get dizzy easily. The dances only face the front of the room and do not require any turns or spins. Much of her choreography is based on popular Country Line Dances. Others are choreographed by Trudy. The dances are danced to upbeat contemporary music.
Creating and teaching line dance combines the best of dance and music.
Trudy Sherman
Kids Science
602-345-0496
Trudy has a PhD in Computer Science. She has been teaching Hands-on Science classes for over 30 years.
Trudy Sherman
Gentle Tai Chi
602-345-0496
Offers Private Lessons
In 1998 Trudy took her first class in tai chi with her mom. Her interest in the whole body benefits of tai chi grew as she watched the positive effects it had on reducing her mother's symptoms from post-polio syndrome which included breathing, balance, and stamina.
In 2013 Trudy was certified as an Easy (Gentle) Tai Chi instructor. Easy Tai chi was developed specifically for Parkinson's patients. In addition to teaching the Original Easy Tai Chi/Qigong she has developed 2 other tai chi classes: Gentle Tai Chi Sequences and Crane Dance Gentle Tai Chi. All three classes focus on improving balance and posture, strengthening the breath, and increasing stamina. As with all tai chi, it is a great way to reduce stress.